Special report: Internal situation in Palestine

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice shakes hands with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas during their meeting in the West Bank city of Ramallah Jan. 14, 2007. (Xinhua Photo/Guo Lei) Photo Gallery >>>

    RAMALLAH, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Sunday expressed his rejection to the notion of a Palestinian statehood with temporary borders with Israel during his meeting with visiting U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

    "We don't see the temporary borders as a realistic choice to rely on," Abbas stressed again at a joint news conference with Rice in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

    "We want all international and regional sides to move constantly to end the conflict and its subsequent results," the Palestinian President continued, adding that the stalled Middle East peace process took the biggest part of his talks with Rice.

    Abbas, meanwhile, urged Israel to stop expanding Israeli settlement in the West Bank, release prisoners and halt all military actions in the Palestinian territories in order to "give a true chance for political process."

    He also called for suitable atmosphere for meaningful peace talks which would lead to end the Israeli occupation that started in 1967.

    "This comes in accordance with the roadmap and the work to materialize President George W. Bush's vision of establishing an independent, viable and geographically-linked Palestinian statehood with Jerusalem as a capital and lives in peace alongside Israel," he added.

    As for the ceasefire in Gaza reached last year between Israel and the Palestinians, Abbas called on the Palestinians to maintain it while demanding the expansion of the truce deal to the West Bank.

    Abbas and Rice also discussed current efforts to form a national unity government capable of lifting the U.S.-led sanctions on the Hamas government.